Homecoming from Hogwarts

The Great Hall, with five long dining tables, was much more crowded than before, and the Gryffindor table was only about an aisle away from the side wall of the hall.

The Slytherins were on the other side of the hall, under the wall.

Between the two colleges are the tables for Hufflepuff, the exchange group and Ravenclaw respectively.

Harry, who received the news unexpectedly, turned around in surprise, his eyes passed over the shoulders of Hannah, Dom, Marietta and Parkinson in turn, and looked at Malfoy who was sitting against the wall with a slightly sick face.

Coincidentally, Malfoy, who was concentrating on cutting a lamb chop, looked up at the right moment, as if he had sensed Harry's gaze.

Facing Harry's prying eyes, Draco's grey eyes flickered a few times, but quickly returned to being empty, and he lowered his head to deal with dinner as if nothing had happened.

"Where did you get this information, Hermione?"

Harry turned his head and looked at Hermione with a frown.

"This afternoon, Slytherin and Ravenclaw had a Herbology class together. Nott questioned Malfoy in class why he didn't attend. However, Padma heard their conversation. When they were doing exercises earlier, Padma told Parvati -"

Hermione munched on a piece of pumpkin pie while counting the number of people who had signed up on the parchment in her hand.

"Give me your list, Ron. It's been announced that the prefects must hand it in to the dean before ten tomorrow. I need to tally up the number of people you've registered. Ron?"

The hand that reached out to Ron didn't receive the paper for a long time. Hermione looked up and found that Ron was also looking at her blankly.

"Isn't Malfoy the Slytherin prefect?"

Seeing the impatience in Hermione's eyes, Ron immediately began to rummage through his schoolbag in a panic.

"The announcement released by Professor Brian only said that the prefects should compile a list of students participating in the study tour, but it did not stipulate that the prefects must participate, right?"

Hermione took the list from Ron, glanced up and down, and after memorizing everyone's name, she pushed the food in front of her aside, took out a new piece of parchment from her schoolbag, and began to copy.

Harry's brows were furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.

"Hey, wait, Hermione, if that's the case..."

Ron stared at the tip of Hermione's pen as it whirled around until she had written down Fred and George's names and was about to add his.
"if it is like this"

Ron looked a little embarrassed.
"I don't think I'm going to participate. I don't plan to live in prison in my life, so I'm not interested in what Avalon Prison looks like--"

After saying this, Ron cautiously glanced at the expressions of Harry and Hermione. He thought that the two would dissuade him or show some disapproval of his decision, but in the end, neither of them did.

Harry was still frowning, thinking about something, and Hermione just looked at him calmly.
"Do you need to think about it again, Ron? Lavender has already registered her name with me."

"Oh, if that's the case—"

Ron hesitated again, and after a few seconds,
"I need to discuss this with Lavender first."

After saying this, Ron left his seat, ran to Lavender, and started gossiping with his girlfriend.

With a sigh, Hermione shook her head, skipped Ron's name, and prepared to copy the following names.

"What the hell is Malfoy doing?"

Harry's muttering made Hermione stop writing again. She looked at Harry who was in a dilemma, with wisdom shining in her eyes.

To be honest, she also felt that there was something wrong with this matter.

On the first night of school, in Professor Brain's office, when Professor Brain said that he would take them to visit Avalon Prison, several Slytherin students present, including Malfoy, showed obvious interest.

But when the time came, Malfoy backed out?

If there were no special reasons, none of the Slytherin students who admired Professor Blaine would be absent.

"Professor Blaine is leading this study tour, right, Hermione?"

After thinking for a while, Harry frowned and looked at Hermione and asked softly.

As Harry's closest friend for more than four years, Hermione must know what Harry would be thinking. She nodded slightly.
"Yes, Harry, you still suspect that the person who tried to invade Professor Blaine's office last time was Malfoy?" "Except for him, I can't think of anyone else who has this possibility--"

Hermione neither refuted nor agreed, but just pursed her lips and looked at the faculty table above the hall.

Dinner was coming to an end, and many students in the auditorium had left their seats and went upstairs.

Professor Braine at the staff table also ended his chat with Professor Dumbledore, wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, pushed open his high-back chair, and walked away.

"so."

Harry lowered his voice and followed Professor Brain's back.

"Do you also think that Malfoy intends to take advantage of the time when Brian leads his team away from school for research and try to invade his office again?"

Hermione kept silent, her brown eyes full of thoughts.

If Malfoy is really that person, then this possibility is very high.

But what she couldn't understand was that Professor Brain had not been in Hogwarts for quite a while. Why didn't the person who secretly wanted to open his office take this opportunity to act?

"Let's go ask——"

After a while, Hermione suddenly moved. She swiftly stuffed the parchment, ink screen and quill pen into her schoolbag, slung it over her shoulder and prepared to follow.

Harry was stunned for a moment before he reacted. He quickly picked up his schoolbag and followed.

The two men trotted towards the hallway.

"Are you going to rush straight to Professor Blaine's office and warn him that Malfoy might open his office while he's not at school?"

"Don't be silly, Harry—"

Hermione's brown curly hair fluttered as she glanced at Harry unhappily.
"Asking questions requires some skill. Oh, of course, I won't mention Malfoy. We don't have any evidence against him."

It was not until they rushed to the second floor that Harry realized that they had left Ron behind.

"Ron will probably stay at school with Lavender."

Hermione shut Harry up with one sentence.

The two of them walked out of the auditorium almost at the same time as Professor Brian, but when they caught up with him, Professor Brian had already opened the door of his office and was ready to go in.

"Harry, and Hermione -"

Amosta turned his head and looked curiously at the two people jogging towards him.

"Are you here to find me?"

"Yes, Professor—"

Before Harry opened his mouth, Hermione leaned on the bag on her shoulder, her breath was slightly disordered,
"We have something we would like to ask for your opinion on, if it would be convenient for you."

"Come on then--"

Amosta chuckled and waved to the two of them.

They sat down on the sofa, and Professor Brains went to make tea in front of the roaring fireplace as usual.

Although he had been to Professor Brain's office many times, this time, Harry couldn't help but look around curiously.

Nothing has changed from before, except that there are more papers piled up on the desk.

So, why did Malfoy want to sneak into this office?

His scattered eyes fell on the contraband display cabinet next to Professor Brain's desk.
Or, did Malfoy have some important contraband that was seized by Filch during the search at the beginning of the term and sent to Professor Braine? (End of this chapter)